My cause is the justice of the law, justice within the law, and justice by the law.
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For better or worse, I spend my life trying to break every limitation of myself I have ever known.
By this I mean weakness, shortcomings, and academic limitations, but also the limits of my endurance. Sometimes I can push these limits to far, and I work too much, wear myself down and partially break. But 30 minutes later, I'm working on it again, now able to go slightly further the next time. And so my endurance increases, and my limits can no longer shackle me or bind me in my choices and actions of what I can and cannot do. I've been through a lot before, I've been broken by stress to a point I thought I could never recover. I'm still fighting this. I have a paralysing fear of ever going back there. So this pushing myself is an exercise of freedom. If I expand my limits to the point of having none, then no one, no one in this world, could ever again push me to breaking. I'll be stronger, I'll be free from the chains of past traumas. I'd be free. Yet sometimes I wonder if this way of making myself stronger, will ultimately only weaken me. This is perhaps more unexpected than my usual blog topics, yet is just a valid form of expression as any topic of writing. When I take my photos (admittedly amateur) I attempt to capture my own judgment of beauty - "gloomy". I decided to share my favourites here; (I don't know how to make them straight ;) ) During my various 'adventures' in London, I found this tree stump across the road from St. Pancreas. Written from the perspective of the tree, the poem makes the tree stump about as interesting as a tree stump can be.
To me, this reflects a small part of our culture. Not in the sense of literature, but in freedom of speech and expression. Whilst most would, correctly, associate freedom of expression with voicing political opinions, it can also come down to this. Everyday expression, without fear of judgement or any obligation to conform. This freedom is what is also great.
This poem was noticed, by me and perhaps others, and this makes it special. It makes me, for one, appreciate the many individuals in London. London is such a busy, crowded city. The hustle and bustle of the streets mean that while you come into contact with so many people in one day, you never really know any of them. You never really have the time to talk, get to know, or sometimes even acknowledge others. that one person spent the time to compose, write out, and thus share this poem speaks more to me than the sentiment of the poem itself. This sense of anonymous community, which perhaps only I feel, is something to be treasured in our lonely, 24-7 world. This poem was written freely, without need of acknowledgement or applause. If more people acted in this way, or could act in this way, the world would be a better place. Perhaps I read to much into this. Perhaps it is just a poem, written from boredom and never meant be seen, only forgotten. Though I do believe, the human race would be nothing, if not for its ability to see deeper. At least, nothing good. Perhaps commemorating those who have fallen fighting for similar rights of expression in other countries is more significant, sensitive and appropriate, than this particular eulogy could ever be. Having debated regularly with friends the differences between these concepts, I thought a summary of our arguments would be an interesting blog post. Please note that whilst omniscience is associated with religion as quality of a god, this debate is not religious, and is not pertaining to any religion or religious belief.
Omniscience 1. all-knowing 2. knowing everything Intelligence 1. understanding, capacity for understanding. We believe that Omniscience is different to Intelligence Our debate went very much like this: Argument 1 (for) As a latin student, this is a my champion argument. Intelligence is derived from 'intelligo', 'I understand', and using this definition, being intelligent is thus to possess understanding or to have the capability of understanding. Omniscience, on the other hand, is complete knowledge. Understanding is not an undoubted accompaniment to knowledge. I can know all of history notes by heart, yet not understand any of them. Therefore knowledge is not equivalent to understanding, and by extension, omniscience is not intelligence. Counter-Argument 1 (against) Understanding can be defined as knowing connections between facts and interlinking your knowledge. Omniscience would give you the knowledge of these links, what they were and how they connected. Thus giving you understanding. Omniscience and intelligence can be defined as the capability of understanding, and so are the same. Counter-Counter Argument 1 (for) Flawed logic does not make a convincing argument. "Omniscience can give understanding, intelligence gives understanding, omniscience is intelligence." is very much like the argument "a dog has four legs, a table has four legs, a dog is a table". Both are fallacies. Arguing this, is arguing that as omniscience is supposedly intelligence, having intelligence means you are then omniscient. Having the mental capacity for understanding cannot be taken as to mean having all-knowing powers. Thus, 'counter-argument 1' looses the little credibility it had. Counter Argument 2 (against) I am omniscient. I know that omniscience is intelligence. Counter-Counter-Argument 2 (for) Ah but do you understand? Many arguments continued in this way, full of customary 'banter', until no clear winner was established. However, I do accept the exchange of "Do you know what omniscient even means" "nope" is satisfactory as a victory to me. Had this been a debate simply on intelligence, knowledge, and understanding, this would have been much harder. It is the all powerful aspect of 'omniscience' which made it that much easier to construct defensible arguments. So, is omniscience the same as intelligence? hhhmmmm.... I found this image whilst browsing Pinterest, inscribed with 'freedom is a state of mind'. This intrigued me and got me wondering as to how true this statement is. My immediate interpretation was from a legal angle and was that the statement could not be true. However, the German song 'Die Gedanken sind frei' (Thoughts are free), which I first came across at a GCSE German Masterclass, also came to mind, challenging my original perspective.  Freedom [free-duh m] noun 1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than under physical restraint 2. the power to determine action without restraint 3. exemption from sth. , e.g. freedom from fear 4. the absence of or release from obligations. State of Mind concept 1. the state of a person's cognitive process 2.the state of a person's consciousness; as in perception of the outside world, and their perception of their own intuition. My Response I understand the sentiment of this quotation, which urges people to let go of restraining thoughts and emotions. It refers to freedom from fears and insecurities, from caring not for other's judgemental opinions, as Lao Tzu's, an ancient Chinese Philosopher, proverb goes; “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” These specific fears can be overcome by an individual's mental will power, releasing you obligations to conform - thus giving you freedom. This idea of renouncing negative thoughts to have a happier ideology is shown in the 4th verse of 'Die Gedanken sind frei'.
This idea of renouncing sorrows and becoming happy with who you are is undoubtedly liberating. However, there is more to freedom than personal perception. This singular idea of being confined only by self-built walls is insensitive to those who are physically imprisoned for what they belief in. They have never been completely free, having suffered oppression, feared imprisonment, and been denied many 'human rights' we take for granted. Freedom of speech, freedom of movement, the right to a fair trial, the right to worship unrestrictedly, I could go on. However, the statement 'freedom is a state of mind' could be more relevant to the them than I had previously thought. Again, I think reference to the German song about freedom of thought, 'Die Gedanken sind frei' is appropriate here.
This is the 3rd verse of the song, and suggests an important aspect of freedom. Whilst many people globally are imprisoned for rebelling, these revolts started from an idea. These men and women can be physically imprisoned, but in these instances, the idea cannot. This makes them forever at least slightly uncontrollable and partially free. So, to a certain extend, I agree with the statement 'freedom is a state of mind'. Without self confidence and freedom from fears, you can never be completely free. On a deeper note, with independent and uncontrollably 'free' thoughts, you can never be completely oppressed. However, neither are enough. In this day and age, all people should have freedom, including legal rights, lack of physical restraint, freedom from fear, and self confidence. That is the state 'freedom' really should be. 'Freedom definition': http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom
'State of mind' definition: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=state%20of%20mind http://www.thefreedictionary.com/state+of+mind Photo credits (found on Pinterest/Tapiture): http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/57-freedom-is-a-state-of-mind-f3fe9737-sz500x707-animate.jpg 'Die Gedanken sind frei' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Gedanken_sind_frei As a first post, I want to give an insight into me and my perspectives. I have been blogging (unsuccessfully) for at least a year. As determined and motivated as I am to making things work out for me, my last blog just wasn't going anywhere. However, with a wider interpretation, my blogging overall can be improved upon instead. Leaving it as a hidden, shady and unsuccessful part of my history would feel as if I was going against my character, and so is not an option. So, in accordance with new year, I begin again. I felt this following post, and it's introduction, would give an insight into me and my perspective.
I began blogging as an AS English student, with an analytical and, to a certain extent, philosophical outlook on the world. Although blogging began as a way to express these opinions, maintaining it has become an attempt to preserve them. Changing to study law has changed my perspective. Constantly considering causation and liability causes me to have a much more purposeful and determined outlook, with a desire to establish action, consequence and guilt. My previous attitude, of always seeing the world in a new light and from unexpected angles has perhaps been overshadowed by this. Justice is normally associated with law, however I would argue that both approaches support it. Without tirelessly attempting to see all sides of an issue, fairness can never be reached. However, without determination and some forcefulness, no 'justice' would ever be apply end. I think both are equally important parts in considering the true meaning of justice. Perhaps what I am trying to express is the need for open mindedness. This quality helps no end in writing successful AS law responses, but for wider life it is essential. Justice, law, and open minded philosophy are not entirely separate, nor unrelated. All are needed together, and in moderation, for us to have a truly fair society. |
AuthorI'm Kat, an AS student studying Latin, Law, German, 16 Century History and Pre-U (debate). My interest in debate is perhaps reflected by my blog. I most like to discuss issues such as freedom of speech, although I also write about literature, a previous subject of mine, and any other topic which captures my interest.
It would be unrealistic to say that in any blog post topic I do divulge in I would consider and write of all issues to do with this. My blog is a just an overview of my must prominent thoughts on it. Other hobbies of mine include reading, appreciating gloomy landscapes, and working. Archives
April 2015
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Photo edit of a gloomy forest
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